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Louisiana Man Sentenced For East Texas Drug Trafficking Violations

Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs

TYLER, Texas – A 22-year-old Shreveport, Louisiana man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

Brandon Johnson pleaded guilty on Nov. 6, 2013, to possession with intent to distribute approximately 4.5 kilograms of marijuana and was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider.

According to information presented in court, on Mar. 19, 2013, Johnson was stopped by a Texas DPS Trooper in the eastbound lane of IH-20 in Van Zandt County, Texas for speeding. During the course of the stop the officer detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside Johnson’s car and detained Johnson in order to conduct a search. The trooper found 10 bundles of marijuana that weighed approximately one pound each in two boxes on the back seat floorboard. The trooper also found a loaded .40 caliber, semi-automatic pistol on the driver’s side floorboard. As part of his sentence, Johnson must forfeit the seized weapon and ammunition to the United States Attorney’s Office. Johnson must also pay a $10,000.00 judgment to be levied against him personally in order to forfeit money he made selling marijuana.

This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Highway Patrol, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.